FIVE MORE E.COLI CASES LINKED TO FARM

Five more people have contracted E.coli in the outbreak linked to a children's farm, it has been confirmed.

Of the 45 affected, 12 are children being treated in hospital. Four of them remain seriously ill.

Six children are in a stable condition, and two were described as "improving" by the Health Protection Agency (HPA).

Godstone Farm in Surrey closed its doors to the public last Saturday in light of the outbreak.

Horton Park Children's Farm in Epsom, Surrey, its sister farm, has also shut because of "unsatisfactory" hygiene arrangements.

An HPA spokeswoman said it was not aware of any cases of E.coli O157 linked to Horton Park Children's Farm, but added: "The hygiene arrangements were found to be unsatisfactory and the HPA advised the local authority that the farm should be closed immediately while these defects were rectified."

A spokeswoman for Horton Park Children's Farm said the decision to close the farm yesterday evening was made because of the perceived "slight risk" of more children contracting E.coli.

In a statement, she said: "Horton Park Children's Farm has decided that, owing to concerns expressed by us and others, and due to the slight risk to our customers of the chance of the disease, the farm will close as a temporary measure until we and others are satisfied that everything in our power has been done to eliminate or reduce any potential risk to our customers and friends.

"I must impress that Horton Park Farm has no suspected or actual cases of E.coli and that this is a preventative measure taken by us to safeguard all our friends and customers.

"Our thoughts at this time are with the children and family and friends of all the people who are ill or suffering because of this unfortunate outbreak of E.coli.

"It is for this reason that we have decided to close until the source can be positively identified.

"We are closely in touch with the environmental health team locally and the Health Protection Agency."

The parents of the most ill children have been given an apology by the HPA for delays in closing Godstone Farm and an independent investigation has been commissioned.

Tracy Mock, the mother of two-year-old twin boys Todd and Aaron Furnell, said she was "encouraged" by the progress they were making at St Thomas' Hospital in central London.

Ms Mock, 38, from Paddock Wood, near Tonbridge, Kent, said: "The nurses say they both look brighter but I think they are going to remain in hospital for weeks still.

"Despite everything, I'm encouraged to see them looking brighter."